Device to straighten out raw tobacco leaves



March 5, 1940. o, 1:, Els MANN 2,192,518

DEVICE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT RAW TOBACCO LEAVES Filed Feb. 19. 19:8

IIHHH I'll.- WHHHHHHHI 16 BY g M ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 g I v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT RAW TOBACCO LEAVES Oswald Erich Eissmann, Richmond, Va., assignor to Universelle Cigarettenmaschinenfabrik, J. C. Muller & Co., Dresden, Germany Application February 19, 1938, Serial No. 191,435

8 Claims. (01. 198-30) This invention relates to a separator for toportion traveling upwardly in order to carry and bacco leaves, more particularly to a device to anspo the toba co ea l pp p straighten out raw tobacco leaves, which has the upper Sur o Said apron A housing I for its object to provide means which will en- 6 is provided with bearings IT in w ch t e 5 able the tobacco leaves to be separated from Shafts ill of the roller H rotate. The housing each other so as to fall into difierent channels it has parallel upstanding walls merging into as they are conveyed by the traveling belt, and ned Wa s e e o e housing iS at the same time one of the objects is to arc osed by an e d Wall 23 forming p f t e range such tobacco leaves in alignment with the s This ousi as its p p as I general direction of the travel of the belt. also the end opp the rear Wall p ed For this purpose the invention consists of below the roller H is another roller 2| having two traveling belts arranged spaced from each s afts 22 n be s of the side walls 23 of a other, ne r f rabl above th th r at th traveling apron frame, and between the two side end portions thereof, so that as the leaves fall a s 3 the apr 5 is p d, which apron off the first traveling belt they drop upon the has its upper surface moving in the direction of adjacent end of the second traveling belt, and arrow 26 and its lower POItiOII 27 moving in the means disposed between said traveling belts for pp d ection. guiding the leaves so as to align them in the e sp e between the two side Walls 23 is general direction of movement of the second in t e nei orhoo d v de into three parts by traveling belt. These interposed means consist, means Of t longitudinally extending partitions in the embodiment shown, of inclined plates and 8 and 9 which xt n a n t entire n t also inclined edges, so that as the tobacco leaves of belt and terminate at each end thereof. drop from the first traveling member upon the These partitions 28 and 29, as also the side walls inclined edges of the plates they are guided by 23, are each provided W Strips v g a trisuch edges, first into an alignment position and, angular S e, W e base of the triangle secondly, into a downward direction towards below d th p f h triangle xt nd n and upon said traveling apron. The leaves that upwardly- These $triDS 30, 34 and drop upon the plates themselves gradually de- 35 Suitably Secured t0 the P o s 8 scend upon the inclined surface thereof until and 29 and the side Walls 3 by gluing other 1 they reach the b tt of the plat and are suitable fastening means. If desired the side directed thereby upon the traveling apron. walls of the hypothenuse of these trian Thereby, by the means described, a, separatign strips may be covered With leatheror similar majunction in the path of the tobacco leaves has ri l hav a x n p r i n adjacent to been provided, which, as before stated, efficiently the uppe sur e of b s a to prevent separates the leaves and causes them to be y tobacco ve from getting in between the dropped in the various channels along the travelower Surface o ese Str ps and the belt 25. f ing apron. It will have been noted that the upper end The invention will be more fully described pa t of ap o 0 is above the ow end part of hereinafter, the embodiments are shown in the apron whereby the a mu ated tobacco drawing, and the invention will finally be pointed a s d p s d crisscross one upon the out in the claims, may drop from the apron l0 upon the apron In the accompanying drawing, 25 and be guided in the channels formed by the Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved p t s and Side Walls, and y Such pp separator for raw tobacco leaves; down be guided by the inclined walls of the 5' Figure 2 is a side view, partially in section, strips into such channels and dispose themselves taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3, and seen in the in alignment with the general direction of the direction of the arrow; and movement of apron 25, as indicated by arrow Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken 26. However, not all o the tobacco leaves, Which, on line 33 of Figure 2. as seen in Figure 1, are of an elongated form,

Similar characters of reference indicate cortake the desired position as just described, but responding parts throughout the various views. this break in the aprons, causing what may-be Referring to the drawing and more particucalled a waterfall action, serves tobring about, larly to Figure 1, the traveling apron It) moves together with the inclined walls of the strips, over the roller ll in the direction of the arrows a general alignment of the tobaccoleaves as 56 I2 and R3. The apron ID is inclined, the upper they are forwarded by the apron 25.

A further improvement consists in providing between the end of apron i0 and the end of apron 25 disposed below, a plurality of plates 50 inclined, as shown in Figure 3. These plates are triangular in shape, with the edge ll abutting the end wall 20, the lower edge 62 of the plates abutting the top surface of the partitions 28 and 29, and the third edge of these plates 40 being inclined, as shown in Figure 1, extending from a position close to the upper apron 0 to a part generally indicated by 44 on the partition 28, and the other plate, which is parallel thereto, extending to a similar position on the partition 29. Preferably, the walls I!) of the housing are parallel with these plates Ml, whereby the plates d0, whether two or more in number, are arranged parallel with each other and with the housing wall l9 and are all inclined. The walls It are parallel with each other. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the upper apron iii is disposed offset laterally with the lower apron 25, and that these walls l6 and I9 and plates 40 form three channels for guiding tobacco leaves from the upper apron ID to the lower apron 25.

As shown in Figure 3, the uppermost edge of one wall it is about vertically above the partition 28. The uppermost edge of the first plate 40 is approximately above the partition 39, the uppermost edge of the second plate 40 is approximately above the side wall 23.

With the disposition of the parts as described and shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tobacco leaves fall off the apron I!) upon the edges d5 of the .plates 40, and as these edges are inclined, as

shown, the leaves ride along the same, and due to the relative position of the leaves upon these edges during this descending action, that portion of the leaf which is heavier than the other portion will determine the future movement of that leaf. Some leaves will align themselves longitudinally with the edge 45 and descend along the edge until the ends of the leaves are guided by the inclined walls of one of the strips 30, 3|, 32, 33, 34 or other leaves will ride along the surface of the plate Ml, while others will topple over from one compartment to another with the edge of the plates acting as pivots, but the general effect and the object of providing these plates is to cause the leaves to be shifted from the crisscross fashion into which they are gathered on apron l0 and deposited in isolated positions on apron 25, longitudinally aligned with the direction of movement of apron 25, as indicated by the arrow 25, in the channels formed between the side walls 23 and the partitions 28 and 29.

In Figure 2 is shown a side View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3, seen in the direction of the arrows, and the various arrows 41, 48, 49, 50, El, 52 and 53 indicate the direction taken by the various leaves in their descending action from the upper apron ID to the lower apron 25, the arrow 54 indicating the return movement of the apron 25.

The inclined plates may be disposed at an angle of about 30 to the horizontal, which, as shown in Figure 3, has proven satisfactory. In the embodiment, plates 40 merge into guide walls 29 extending along the aprons. The ends of the aprons, as also the inclined guiding means described, are enclosed by a housing 16, the walls of the housing l6 being preferably inclined so as to act in portions thereof in the same manner as the inclined plates 40.

From the foregoing description and embodi- .ment shown in the drawing, it will have been noted that the invention generally consists of a feed apron terminating above the entrance end of another feed apron, the second feed apron being provided with longitudinal channels having inclined side walls, whereby the leaves, when descending from the first apron to the second apron, are guided so as to partake of a longitudinal position in alignment with the direction of the movement of thesecond feed apron. The partitions which form the channels on the second feed apron are of general triangular form with the peak of the triangle uppermost so as to provide inclined guide walls. Furthermore, the first or upper feed apron is laterally offset relative to the second apron and the space immediately below the discharge end of the first apron is divided into compartments by inclined walls and, preferably, by triangular plates, so that as the leaves fall upon the edges of these plates or upon the plates themselves the leaves are caused to be aligned. As they approach the second or lower apron they are then carried in an aligned position by the second apron in the direction of its movement.

By the structure disclosed, a superimposed bundle of tobacco leaves in arbitrary positions is readily separated and caused to be moved forward by the second apron in isolated positions and in alignment with the direction of movement of the second apron.

This invention is especially adapted for the handling of large quantities of tobacco used daily in the manufacture of tobacco for its further uses. The present tendency is to meet the demands of the customers who wish to have the completed product relatively as large as possible, and this necessitates the placing of the tobacco leaves in a position so as to be introduced lengthwise into the tearing machine. 'Though it may be necessary to provide a larger tearing machine, it is not desirable to increase the accessories thereto, and it is preferable to adhere to the narrow width of the feed apron heretofore used, and, if desirable, to place two aprons, or belts, side by side, or, if a double width belt is desired, partitions can be installed therein.

The invention above described enables this feed belt, acting in conjunction with the tearing machine, to operate automatically without any attendance, since, in the invention described, the tobacco arrives on a feed belt which is situated above, one and a half times the belt width higher than the actual feed belt, operating in conjunction with the tearing contrivance. The former or upper belt is displaced about 30 in relation to the lower feed belt, and the tobacco drops over into compartments 0r chutes which are placed obliquely about 30 and which are inclined less than turning the tobacco leaves somewhat lengthwise and, furthermore, dividing them into various Zones. The exact lengthwise alignment of the leaves takes place when the leaves drop from the chute or chutes and touch the feed belt which acts in conjunction with the tearing contrivance. The high speed of the latter belt, that is, the lower belt, then turns the leaves lengthwise, so that they are conveyed to the tearing contrivance in a lengthwise po sition. It will, therefore, be seen that in connection with the structure described a leaf, though placed in any position, lengthwise or crosswise, or otherwise, upon the upper apron, and though falling upon the inclined edges 45 in any position, as soon as an end of the leaf is brought in contact with the lower apron, the lower apron arranges it lengthwise.

In the embodiment there have been shown two inclined plates to operate as two inclined walls; also there have been shown two side walls along the apron 25 divided by two partitions into three channels. The number of compartments, chutes, plates, partitions and channels is not an essential feature of the invention, since more or less can be provided.

I have shown an embodiment of my invention, but I do not wish to be limited to the details thereof, as changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as new:

1; In a separator for tobacco leaves, having a feed apron for transporting leaves in arbitrary positions in respect to each other and for discharging such leaves therefrom, a second apron having its receiving end disposed below the discharge end of the first apron, the combination of partitions having inclined walls disposed longitudinally of the second apron and forming a channel for guiding the descending tobacco leaves on the second apron, and plates between the aprons having inclined edges terminating at the partitions of the second apron, said plates being inclined to the horizontal, saidsecond apron being laterally offset from the first apron, said inclined plates extending rearwardly below the discharge end of the first apron, where by the tobacco leaves, as they are conveyed forward by the second apron, are carried in an aligned position in the direction of the movement of the second apron.

2. In a separator for tobacco leaves, having a feed apron for transporting leaves in arbitrary positions in respect to each other and for dis-1 charging such leaves therefrom, a second apron having its receiving end disposed below the discharge end of the first apron, the combination of partitions having inclined walls disposed longitudinally of the second apron and forming a channel for guiding the descending tobacco leaves on the second apron, and plates between the aprons having inclined edges terminating at the partitions of the second apron, said plates being inclined to the horizontall, said second apron being laterally ofiset from the first apron, the receiving end of the second apron being vertically inward of the discharge end of the first apron, whereby the tobacco leaves, as they are conveyed forward by the second apron, are carried in an aligned position in the direction of the movement of the second apron, the second apron being ofiset vertically from the first apron.

3. In a separator for tobacco leaves, having a feed apron for transporting leaves in arbitrary positions in respect to each other, and for discharging such leaves therefrom, and a second apron having its receiving end disposed below the discharge end of the first apron, of means disposed between the discharging end of the first apron and the receiving end of the second apron, for disentangling the tobacco discharged from the first apron, said means including an inclined walldisposed at an acute angle laterally to the second apron and having an edge portion disposed at an acute angle longitudinally to the second apron, whereby tobacco leaves dropping upon said means are balanced on the edge portion thereof, and descend upon the second apron at either side of said means depending upon which part of the leaf is heavier, said second apron then moving the said leaf in longitudinally aligned position away from said means.

4. A. separator for tobacco leaves, comprising a feed apron for transporting leaves in arbitrary positions to each other and for discharging such leaves therefrom, a second apron having its receiving end disposed below the discharge end of the first apron and offset laterally from the first apron, and plates inclined to the vertical having their upper ends adjacent to the upper apron and having their lower ends adjacent to the second apron, said plates having inclined edges.

5. A separator for tobacco leaves, comprising a feedapron for transporting leaves in arbitrary positions to each other and for discharging such leaves therefrom, a second apron having its re-- ceiving end disposed below the discharge end of the first apron, and offset laterally from the first apron, partitions longitudinally of the second apron and forming channels, and triangular plates disposed between the the vertical.

6. A separator for tobacco-leaves, comprising a feed apron for transporting leavesinarbitrary positions to each other and for discharging such leaves therefrom, a second apron having its receiving end disposed below the discharge end of the first apron, and offset laterally from the first apron, partitions longitudinally of the second apron. and forming channels, and a housaprons inclined to 'ing having inclined outer Walls and inclined plates parallel with said outer walls, the plates having inclined edges extending. from the upper apron to the lower apron.

7. A separator for tobacco leaves, comprising a feed apron for transporting leaves in a1"- bitrary positions to each other and for discharging such leaves therefrom, a second'apron having its receiving end disposed below the discharge end of the first apron, and offset laterally from the first apron, partitions longitudinally of the second apron and forming channels, inclined plates extending from said partitions to the first apron, and a housing having inclined Walls parallel with'the inclined plates, said plates being of a triangular shape with the hypothenuse inclined from the upper apron to the lower apron.

8. In combination, two aprons disposed one above the other, with the discharge end of the upper apron vertically above the receiving end of the lowerapron, and one apron oitset laterally from the other, and inclined chutes disposed be tween the aprons, for guiding tobacco" from the discharge end of the upper apron to the lower apron.

OSWALD ERICH EISSMANN. 

